News
Bysiewicz: constitutional convention on the ballot
By Secretary of the State's Office
Jun 26, 2008 - 3:10:10 PM

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz announced today that for the first time since 1986, a question will appear on all Connecticut ballots this fall asking voters whether or not they support a constitutional convention. The placement of the question on the ballot is required by Article Thirteenth of the Connecticut Constitution and it will simply ask “Shall there be a constitutional convention to amend or revise the Constitution of the State?”

“As chief elections official for the state of Connecticut, it is my duty to inform voters that this question will appear on the ballot,” said Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, “however, in my opinion, a convention to amend our state Constitution is not necessary. I support our constitution as written. Any amendments or revisions can be made by the people’s representatives in the General Assembly and then approved by a majority of voters.”

Under Article 13th of the Connecticut Constitution, a question on the constitutional convention is required to go on the ballot in the general election of the next even numbered year following the expiration of a 20 year period since the last time voters were asked the question.

The last Constitutional Convention in Connecticut took place in 1965, and was called to correct a deeply flawed system of apportioning representatives to the General Assembly which gave large cities such as New Haven and Bridgeport roughly the same number of house seats as small towns such as Union and Beacon Falls. That system was made null and void by the 1964 “One Man, one Vote” case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Reynolds v. Sims.

The last time a constitutional convention question appeared on the Connecticut ballot was 1986, and it was defeated by the voters.

Under Connecticut’s Constitution, the convention would be called only if the question is approved by a majority of the voters and its membership and duration are approved by a two-thirds majority in both houses of the General Assembly. Any amendment or revision to the Connecticut Constitution approved by the convention would then need to be ratified by a majority of Connecticut voters in the following general election.

Secretary Bysiewicz also reminds voters that including the constitutional convention, there will be two constitutional questions on the ballot on November 4th: allowing 17 year olds to vote in primaries.

“I urge all voters to vote yes on the constitutional question before us this fall which would allow 17 year-olds in Connecticut to vote in primaries if they will turn 18 by the general election. This was overwhelmingly approved by the General Assembly and will significantly expand voting rights in our state,” said Bysiewicz.

There are two ways to amend the state Constitution: a constitutional convention can be called or an amendment can be approved by three quarters of both houses of the General Assembly and then ratified by a majority of the voters in a general election.

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